Swansea boss Michael Laudrup backs Davies for bright future

Left-back Davies, 19, has excelled for the Swans since being thrust into the first team when Neil Taylor suffered a broken ankle back in September. He has gone on to make 43 appearances for club and country, showing admirable composure and solidity throughout his first experience of senior football.

Davies is a natural centre back and Laudrup believes that is where his long-term future lies, saying: "If you see him now he is much stronger - although maybe in some minds over here he lacks some height - and I think in time he can be a good left-footed centre-back."

He added: "He is getting stronger in the air, physically as well, and left-footed centre-backs are difficult to find, look how many sides play with two right-footed centre-backs."

Taylor is getting ever closer to his first-team return from his horrific ankle injury, and Laudrup plans to give him an appearance before the end of the season.

But for next season he will consider Taylor and Davies as his two left-back options, despite their ability to play other positions.

Taylor, in particular, impressed at right-back when playing for Team GB at last summer's Olympics.

He said: "I see them as two left-backs. For a great part of the season we have spoken about the lack of alternatives in certain positions but never at left-back, even though we only had one all season.

"We brought in Dwight Tiendalli after Neil got injured, but he is right-footed and is better at right back.

"We have only had one left-footed left-back for the whole season so next season I want two for each position and I see them as two left-backs."

Source: PA

Source: PA